June 14, 2012

Vietnam losses US$239 million due to shrimp disease

Since last year, losses of up to VND5 trillion (US$239 million) to farmers in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces have been incurred due to shrimp diseases, these figures were recently released by the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta's coastal provinces.

Tra Vinh Province suffered the highest losses, with VND2,300 billion (US$110 billion). Diseases affected more than 8,000 hectares of shrimp farms in the province, including 6,800 hectares and 7,800 hectares in Soc Trang and Ca Mau provinces, respectively.

Prices of shrimp materials have dropped VND20,000-50,000 (US$0.96-2.39) a kilogramme this year, also causing difficulties for farmers, according to Ca Mau Province's Sea Products Import and Export Association.